Local News

It looks unlikely a Veterans Affairs office will be reopened in Prince George as a result of a federal government hiring spree that will see more than 100 case managers added to its roster.

Expect minor delays with lane closures at the John Hart and Yellowhead bridges today. Maintenance work is scheduled for the southbound lane on the John Hart and the westbound lane on the Yellowhead, both from 1 to 5 p.m.

The city is filling more potholes during the winter, which could mean another year of budget overruns. The allocation for pothole-patching asphalt has been overspent for five out of the last seven years (including the first two months of 2015).

The proposed park behind the Wood Innovation and Design Centre could be a highlight in the downtown core, said members of city council, but only if the city can head off potential problems.

A B.C. Supreme Court trial began Monday for two men accused of invading a 400-block Ogilvie St. home in early 2013. Sameer Madhok, 43, faces nine charges and Mark Anthony Stewart, 33, faces seven charges.

Construction began on 34 new single-family homes in Prince George and area during the first quarter of this year, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation numbers. That's double the total reached by the same point last year.

Prince George's unemployment rate stood at 4.5 per cent in March, according to Statistics Canada labour market survey numbers released last week. That's down from 5.6 per cent for the same month last year.

The provincial 4-H ambassador program is short one of its star members. Prince George's Amanda Wellburn has completed her two-year mandate and set an aggressive leadership pace in the process, according to her provincial leaders.

Research done in Prince George is now informing a new and ominous report by the Cedar Project, an ongoing data collection program looking into aboriginal victimization.

It's not the first edition of the Prince George Citizen but it is the fourth edition of the Fort George Tribune that made a welcome appearance at the Citizen's office Monday morning.